When Antonia Paula Amaya was born on 2 March 1936, in Laredo, Webb, Texas, United States, her father, Eugeno Feliz Amaya, was 21 and her mother, Antonia Alvarez Leal, was 27.

As a young girl, she survived a flood in Laredo along the Rio Grande and grew up amongst her brothers and sisters (Eugenio Felix Amaya, Mary Elizabeth Amaya, Maria Isabela Amaya, Rosa Amaya, Maria Amaya, Jose Humberto Amaya, John Amaya, Juan Amaya).

She married Jose Alonzo Vega and became Antonia Sanchez; she had seven children (Jose “Joe” Alonso Sanchez Jr, Raul Anthony Sanchez, Santiago “Jimmy” Sanchez, Ricardo Albert Sanchez, Rene Hugo Sanchez, Josephine “Josie” Ann Sanchez , and Laura Patricia Sanchez).

As a military spouse, she followed her husband’s military stations, leaving her hometown of Laredo, and living in various places such as El Paso, Abilene, Aurora, Colorado, and Africa.

After suffering abuse from her husband, she later divorced and never married again. She shared that one night she starred at the moon, and decided it was over. She was quite proud of the divorce judge showing her sympathy, granting her half of her husband’s military/retirement pay, and the house on Appleton drive, which she lived in until she died; she often repeated the story to family members.

She worked many years as a bank teller, first working the front counter until a bank robbery made her decide to only work the drive-through lane. Even at the drive-through lane she saved her own life, when someone sent a bomb in through the transaction tubes, Antonia said, “if this is a bomb, then I don’t want it,” and sent it back to the sender. Her sons gathered at the bank, waiting to learn about her safety, and her co-workers were impressed at the love and concern they had for their mom.

She traveled with her adult children on a large family vacation to Washington DC, and on another trip to Florida.

She did enjoy the beach, and kept in contact with her brother who lives in Corpus Christi, TX.

She also enjoyed spending free time, and holidays at private land on Medina lake.

She also worked a retirement job, by assisting her daughter, Josie, at a day care and received great joy from helping raise babies.

As she got older, she felt much joy and love for her grand children (Mark Alexander Sanchez, Kimberly Bemrich, Ellice Sanchez, Erica Bemrich, Amanda Sanchez, Hope Isaacs, Candice Lomas, Victoria Bemrich, Sofie Sanchez). She also had the joy of loving her great grand kids (Aubrey Ann Solis, Jacob Lawrence Solis, Emma Rose Solis, Jace Arriola, Jameson Arriola, Jocelyn Arriola).

As she aged, her son, Rene Sanchez, assisted his mom in her daily tasks such as making medical appointments or bringing her a breakfast taco. Granddaughter, Kimberly Bemrich, would go all out to gather the family for Antonia’s birthdays and mother’s day celebrations.

Daughter, Josie Sanchez, would visit Antonia for small occasions and bring her dinner, just because, on normal work nights.

Sons, Raul and Jimmy Sanchez, would assist their mother buy hiring cleaning crews, or buying appliances for her aging house.

Antonia lost her son Ricardo Sanchez in April 2023, which gave her great heart ache, as he lived with her and kept her company, in addition to taking care of the lawn.

Ellice Sanchez, Rene Sanchez, and Jose Sanchez Junior, were working together to renovate Antonia’s house, when Antonia Sanchez lost her eldest son, Jose Alonso Sanchez, Jr., in July 2025 in a traffic collision. She also felt great pain for the loss of this son, as he was temporarily living with her while he was working on renovations at his own house. The house renovations were completed, and she lived her final days in comfort.

Kimberly Bemrich had a nightly ritual with Antonia, visiting her most nights, changing her clothes to pajamas, and rubbing her feet. It was a simple ritual, but much anticipated by Antonia as a chance to see her eldest granddaughter.

Through the help of Kimberly and Josie, Antonia was able to visit her sister, Isabel, in Dallas one final time, before she too passed.

Antonia had many close calls with surgeries as she aged. She was one of the first people to have heart surgery at Willford Hall. She lived with chronic health failure but would do her part to exercise her legs. She was upright, standing, and able to even grill her own fish for lunch, which made her loss more shocking. Expecting to live, Antonia even got a hair cut just 2 days before her final hospital admission.

She went into BAMC hospital on Monday, August 20, 2026, for tummy pains, and ended up needing surgery that night. The surgeons took her in the next day for surgery revisions, but found there was nothing left that could be done to save her failing intestine. A parade of family members and friends came to give Antonia goodbyes upon hearing her imminent death. The doctors told her family to expect a quick death upon removing a breathing tube, but she held on a fought for many hours to live every second she could, even the struggling moments of life were precious to her. As time passed, she became unconscious. Daughter, Josie, left grandma at around 5am. Her daughter-in-law, Natalie Sanchez, granddaughter, Amanda Sanchez, and Sanchez, left the hospital around 6am.

She died on 13 August 2026, in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States, at the age of 90 in the quiet presence of her granddaughters, Kimberly Bemrich and Ellice Sanchez. Her son, Rene Sanchez, left the hospital to feed Antonia’s dogs, but did not make it back in time for her final passing. In the presence of these three people, Antonia’s body was honour-walked from the ICU room, to the morgue.

An open casket viewing will be held for Antonia, followed by catholic services. Her body will then be cremated and spread at her Medina lake property.

Services

August 27, 2026 | Castle Ridge Mortuary, 8008 Military Dr. W, San Antonio TX 78227

3:00 – 4:00 – Private family visitation
4:00 – 6:00 Public visitation
6:00 – Rosary

August 28, 2026 | St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 4222 SW Loop 410, San Antonio TX 78227

10:00 – Pallbearers show up
10:30 – Funeral Mass
12:00 – Pot luck (Arranged by Laura Sanchez, consult her)